Brake system and power steering flushes

[Roger]

Coming up to 50,000 miles on my 01 Silverado. Haven't had any of the above done yet. When do you fellow Silverado owners recommend these flushes.

 

Thanks

[rjirvine]

I bought a brake bleeder kit for about $75 off of ebay and bled my brakes at 95k miles. (I bought the truck with 91k miles) I think I will do it about every 2 years. I'm assuming it was never done before, and I couldn't even see the sun thru the bottle of fluid I had flushed. The brakes seemed to work better, but don't know if it was psychological or not. If you get a brake bleeder, suck most of the fluid out of the reservoir and stir the residue/wipe it down with a lint free towel and q-tips then fill it with fresh fluid before you start.

 

I also bled the power steering fluid, but if I had to do it again, i think i would just used a turkey baster and suck the fluid out and then do it again, (because I made a huge mess in my driveway when the tube came out of the 2l diet coke bottle I was using to drain the fluid. ) I flushed the power steering with valvoline synthetic fluid, and after driving just a few miles, it was dark again, although it certainly was in need of a flush. I would flush both systems now, and then every two years if it were my truck.

 

Bob, 2000 Silverado 4x4 ext cab w/ 5.3

[RyanZ71]

I like to have the brake fluid flushed every 2 years. As for the power steering, it's really up to you but every 50,000 miles sounds like a good time to me.

[kdm101]

I also bought one of those Motive Products bleeders. Great thing to have when you don't have a helper available! Pays for itself with only 1 self-flush job! And they finally have the adapter for the late model GM screw-top reserviors! (my kit didn't have that when I bought it)

 

I agree that every 2 years on the brake fluid is good insurance (regardless of mileage). Given that the fluid traps moisture, the fresher you keep it, the less chance you'll ever have to need to replace the calipers (and they aint cheap!). And fresh fluid just works better.

 

As far as the PS fluid, I did mine almost 2 years ago, and will probably skip it this year. I'd agree that 5 years or 50k would be a fair interval. That fluid's not under as much heat stress as say the transmission or differential, so it should hold up better.

[Bish]

I second the Motive Bleeder. I flush mine every year anternating with ATE Blue and Gold. Run each wheel until the fluid changes color. Regarding the power steering fluid. I use the turkey baster method every 10K or thereabouts. Figure it is only getting about 1/3 the fluid but refreshing often enough that it stays fresh.

[C & A s Dad]

I flushed my PS at home but what you have to know is that if you do not turn the wheel back and forth while you are doing it, you are only getting the fluid out of the reservoir. The thing to do is drain and refill it, drive it and repeat a few times, this wll get most of the old fluid out. Be sure that you do not crank it while the pump is dry or you will get air in the system. I also beileve in Lubegard PS and trans additives and would suggest that you look into this.

 

For the brakes, I have never bled the system to change the fluid. I simply draw out the fluid from the res, refill it and do it again after a few days. You can repeat this a few times and in my opion, you will have the system flushed. Bleeding an ABS system can be tricky and cause more problems than you want to deal with. I would also suggest that you refill the master cyl with Valvoline dot 3 / 4 syn formula fluid.